ABSTRACT
Sustainability is the governing paradigm of the 21st century. It has been the core of development debates for decades. However, expanding cities, especially in developing countries, are still lacking good guidance for coping with this paradigm. In these countries, the brown agenda dominates urban development; the green agenda is seen as a luxury and something to be considered in future generations. However, the current debate of quality of life (QOL) versus standard of living provides a strong base to support more environmentally responsive urban development. There is a growing awareness that providing a good QOL is a right of even the very vulnerable. This shift in paradigm advocates a more holistic approach to urban development. But question remains: What kind of urban planning theory or trend should be advocated to ensure a more sustainable development?
